but swonk admits the current tax code that allows income from investment, as in mitt romney's 15% tax bill two years ago, needs fixing. "someone who's making a gazillion dollars should not get carried interest taxes. that's just wrong." the markets have been skeptical that a long-term deal will be made. equity analysts are not optimistic. "we're expecting more volatility in the first half of 2013. we expect we'll be hearing debt ceiling discussions again." for now, fiscal cliff negotiations have slowed activity. "this is where the market is frustrated by politics. it's a vicious circle." even at a meeting of start-ups, a group some consider below the radar of fiscal cliff negotiations, some entrepreneurs are becoming unusually cautious. "you have to take pause and assess what healthcare and taxes may cost, but we also have an obligation to our investors, so we see the fiscal cliff thing as a temporary roadblock but not something that...it won't stop us from hiring at this moment." one bright spot - according to analysts at mesirow, housing, expecially new housing, in many markets is b